The security sector is no exception to the impact sustainability is having on industries across the globe. In celebration of Earth Day, SDM sat down with four leaders — Kristi Keating, vice president of sustainability for Securitas Technology; Chris Shanelaris, manager of public relations and communications for Axis Communications; Richard Kasslack, senior vice president of global sales and corporate development for NVT Phybridge; and Joshua Tucker, territory sales manager for Northern California for ASSA ABLOY — to explore what makes sustainability a competitive advantage in security.

Who & What Is Driving Sustainability?

When asked, “Are customers and end users actively asking for sustainable solutions, or is this being driven more by industry leadership?” the consensus was the same — it’s a balanced mix of both.

Even when customers don’t explicitly use the word ‘sustainability,’ they are asking for outcomes that align with it: lower costs, faster deployments, reduced disruption and better ROI. At the same time, the definition of risk in the security industry is expanding. Climate events, energy concerns and shifting social expectations are reshaping what it means to protect people, assets and infrastructure. Sustainability is at the center of that mission.

Securing a Competitive Edge

Sustainability isn’t just good for the environment. It’s good for business.

Sustainability is a differentiator, showing up more frequently in bid requirements and project criteria, especially in regions and sectors where regulations or ESG commitments carry weight. Integrators who can clearly demonstrate sustainable outcomes often have an advantage in winning business. In addition, sustainable strategies can unlock operational efficiencies, from reducing infrastructure costs by avoiding unnecessary “rip-and-replace” upgrades to shortening deployment timelines and minimizing disruption.

Getting Started? It’s Easy!

For integrators and dealers, sustainability presents an opportunity to create value and strengthen relationships. By incorporating sustainability into conversations, integrators can shift from transactional vendors to trusted advisors, focusing on long-term performance, lifecycle planning and ongoing optimization.

Good news: Getting started doesn’t require a major overhaul. Panelists emphasized that small, practical steps can make a significant impact, such as:

• Choosing energy-efficient, long-life products
• Designing systems that avoid overbuilding
• Reusing existing infrastructure like cabling
• Leveraging remote tools to reduce truck rolls

These decisions not only reduce environmental impact but also improve margins, streamline operations and deliver measurable ROI for customers.

Where Are We Headed?

Looking ahead, leaders agree that sustainability in security will be shaped by both technology and mindset shifts.

Emerging technologies (i.e. edge computing, AI-driven analytics and more efficient video compression) are already reducing bandwidth, storage and energy consumption. Cloud and hybrid architectures are also helping organizations deploy systems more efficiently.

Just as important is a shift in how systems are designed. Moving sustainability considerations earlier into the planning process — and improving collaboration across IT, security and building stakeholders — will be critical.

The industry’s biggest opportunity may lie in rethinking long-standing practices. Reducing e-waste, improving supply chain transparency and prioritizing reuse over replacement could significantly lower environmental impact while improving project outcomes.

Want to Hear the Full Conversation?

Click here to listen to the complete SDM Podcast to hear detailed insights, real-world examples and actionable advice from Kristi Keating, Chris Shanelaris, Richard Kasslack and Joshua Tucker.